Sulagitti Narasamma

Sulagitti Narasamma (1920 – 25 December 2018)[1] was an Indian midwife from Pavagada town, in Tumkur district of Karnataka state. She performed more than 15,000 traditional deliveries free of charge over a 70-year period of service in deprived regions of Karnataka with no medical facilities.[2][3][4] Her work was honored with the National Citizen's award of India in 2012 and the country's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2018.[5][6]

Sulagitti Narasamma
Sulagitti Narasamma
Born1920 (1920)
Pavagada taluk, Tumkur district, Kingdom of Mysore (now Karnataka, India)
Died25 December 2018 (aged 97–98)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationMidwife
Spouse(s)Anjinappa
AwardsPadma Shri (2018)
National Citizen's award (2013)
Honorary doctorate (2014)
Narasamma (left) receiving the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind (right), 2018

Biography

Narasamma was born in Krishnapura, Pavagada village in Tumkur district to a nomadic culture. Her first language was Telugu. She did not attend school and grew up illiterate; she married her husband, Anjinappa, at the age of 12. She had 12 children, although four died when young, and 36 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.[7][4][8]

She learnt her midwifery skills from her grandmother, Marigemma, a midwife who also helped to deliver five of Narasamma's own babies. In 1940, at the age of 20, Narasamma assisted at her first birth when she helped with the delivery of her aunt's baby.[7]

Narasamma had the opportunity to keep practice her midwifery skills whenever nomadic tribes arrived at her village. She also learned the art of preparing natural medicine for pregnant women and soon became competent in checking the health and position of the baby.[9] She was also reportedly able to detect the pulse of the foetus while in the womb, without the use of any instruments.[10]

By 2018, and at the age of 97 years old, Narasamma had helped to deliver more than 15,000 babies, and has been described as 'the go-to midwife of Krishnapura'.[11][9]

Awards and honors

Narasamma received the following awards and citations:

Death

Narasamma was admitted to the Siddaganga Hospital and Research Centre in November 2018 and was later referred to BGS Hospitals on November 29, 2018. She died at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals in Kengeri, Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 25 December 2018 at the age of 98 of chronic lung disease.[8]

On 25 December 2018, Narasamma's body was kept at Glass House in Tumakuru for the public to pay tributes. Several Ministers, former Ministers and thousands of people from different walks of life also paid their tributes to the departed soul. On 26 December 2018, Narasamma was laid to rest with full state honours at Gangasandra village on the outskirts of the Tumakuru city. Half acre of the one-acre plot was set aside for a memorial.[15]

References
  1. "Padma Shri awardee Sulagitti Narasamma passes away at 98". The Economic Times. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  2. Govt. of India. "Padma Awards 2018". padmaawards.gov.in. 2018, padmaawards.
  3. GovOfIndia. "Story of Dr. Sulagatti Narasamma, Janani Amma – Padma Awardee 2018 in Social Work". Online Edition MyGov India. 2018, MyGov India.
  4. Prajwal Bhat. "Meet the Padma awardee from K'taka who helped deliver babies for 70 yrs, free of cost". Online Edition of thenewsminute. 2018, thenewsminute.
  5. Staff. "Photos: Illaiyaraja, Ghulam Mustafa Khan, 41 others given Padma awards". Online Edition of Zee News. 2018, Express News Service.
  6. India.com News Desk. "MS Dhoni, Pankaj Advani Conferred With Padma Bhushan; Complete List". Online Edition of india.com. 2018, india.com.
  7. H Devaraja. "Dr Narasamma reads gentle pulse of foetus". Online Edition of newindianexpress, dated 04 February 2018. 2018, Express News Service.
  8. newindianexpress.com News Desk. "Well known midwife Sulagitti Narasamma who helped thousands of women deliver babies, no more". Online Edition of newindianexpress.com. 2018, newindianexpress.com.
  9. indiatimes.com News Desk. "97-YO Midwife Cum Farm Labourer Recognised For Lifetime Work, Get Padma Shri". Online Edition of indiatimes.com. 2018, indiatimes.com.
  10. "Sulagitti Narasamma, Padma Shri awardee midwife who delivered 15,000 babies, dies at 98". dna. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  11. deccanchronicle.com News Desk. "Sulagitti admitted to Bengaluru hospital". Online Edition of deccanchronicle.com. 2018, deccanchronicle.com.
  12. DHNS. "Ko Channabasappa among 58 Rajyotsava awardees". Online Edition of deccanherald.com. 2013, deccanherald.com.
  13. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. "The President Confers First National Award for Senior Citizens – Vayoshreshtha Samman, 2013". Govt. of India official press release. 2013, pib.nic.in.
  14. "Padma Shri awardee Sulagitti Narasamma passes away at 98". The Economic Times. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  15. newindianexpress.com News Desk. "Narasamma laid to rest with state honours". Online Edition of newindianexpress.com. 2018, newindianexpress.com.
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